Willard j



(No Model.)

W. J. ANDREWS. HOUSE LETTER B0X.

No. 467,586. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENTV OEEICE.

WILLARD J. ANDREVS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO J. G. REARDIN, OF SAME PLACE.

HOUSE LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,586, dated January 26, 1892. Application filed February 13,1891. Serial No. 381,274. (No model.)

To ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLARDJ. ANDREWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Myinvention consists in the novel construetion and combination of parts, which will first be fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a view in perspective of the improved letter-box, showing the transparent front plate, the paper-clamp upon the end of the box and also in dotted lines, the lock securing the top or cover to one side of the box, and the position of the top or cover when opened to remove the letters. liig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the letter-box. lFig. `3 is a perspective view in detail of the end and a broken View of the back portion of the box, showing the interlocking portions. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the box with the top removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures A In the construction of my improved letterbox A A represent the vertical sides, which are made of the proper length and width. The forward edge portion of each one of the sides A A is bent nearly at right angles and in the direction of the other, so as to forni the flanges a a. Upon the innerside portion of the said sides A A, a short distance in rear of the flanges c a and vertically in line, are made the lugs a a.

B is the back of the box, the vertical edge portions Z) of which are bent forward at right angles and one edge portion Z) extended a short distance over the outer side portion of one of the sides A and the other bent edge portion extended over the outer side portion of the other side A.

C is the bottom of the box, the edge portions of which are bent in an upward direction against the outer portions of both. sides and ends of the box, forming the fiange c. Upon the inner side and lower end portion of each one of the sides A A are rigidly attached the horizontal forked lugs a2 a2. Upon the inner side and upper end portion of each one of the sides A A is attached a hook a3, which extends a short distance beyond the rear vertical edge portion of said side. In the back B, directly opposite the hooks a3 at each upper corner, is made the notches b2 b2.

D is the top of the box, the edge portions of which are bent at right angles and in a downward direction against both sides and ends of the box, forming the ange CZ.

Upon the upper and outer end portion of one of the sides A is rigidly attached the forked lug a4, and upon an end portion of the top B is attached a single flat lug do. Through the lugs a4 and (Z0 are made registering perforations d5, through which perforations is inserted the pintle as.

In the top D is made a longitudinal opening CZ', and extending around said opening and a short distance in an upward direction is a fiange (Z2. To the outer side portion of the top D and near one end of the opening CZ is hinged one end of a cover (Z4, upon the,

longitudinal edge port-ions of which is the downwardly-extended iiange d5, which iiange extends over the flange (Z2 around the longitudinal opening' CZ.

To the under side portion of the top D and at the vibrating end of said top is secured firmly a look E, the bolt e of which is made to enter a slight depression or keeper in the inner side of the plate A opposite the bolt of said lock.

To the back B in rear of one of the flanged portions b at the upper end of the box is rigidly attac-hed an extension-plateb, and to the portion of the back Bin rear of the other anged portion b is attached a similar extension-plate Z2", both of which plates extend at right angles to and a suitable distance from said back B and upwardly to the notched portion b2 of the said back. Through one of the extension-plates b5 is made a transverse perforation In a horizontal line with the perforation b5 and rigidly attached to the outer side portion of the back B is a perfo- IOO rated lug 126. Through the perforations lf in the lug b is extended one end ot a rod Il, which end is bifurcated at f. Around the rod F and between the bifurcated endf and the lug 126 is placed acoiled springf. The other or clamping end f2 of the rod Fis bent at right angles and extended across the side A of the box from the perforation b5.

Gis the 'front of the box, which consists of a plate of transparent material, such as glass, mica, dsc., and extends from one side A to the other and is secured between the flanges a a and the lugs ct of each respective side.

In assembling the separate parts of the box the back B is lirst placed within the flange c and with its lower edge resting upon the bottom C. The sides A A are then set in place, the hooks a3 ot which enter the notch b2 in the back B and engage or interlock with the portions ot' the said back beneath said notch and also engage with the inner edge of theextension-plate b3, which prevents the hook from moving outwardly from said notch. A perforation c is then made through the bottom C of the box in line with the forked portions of the lug a2, and a bolt c2, provided with a head c3 at one end and screw-threaded at the other, is inserted in said perforation within the box, which head c3 impinges upon the said forked lug a2. Upon the screw-threaded end of the bolt upon the under side of the bottom C is iitted a nut c4, so that upon the insertion of the bolt c2 and the adjustment of the nut c4 thereon the sides, bottom, and back are held firmly together, and with the aid of but one bolt to each side A.

In the top D of the box and over the keyhole of the lock E is a key-hole e, so that the contents of the box cannot be removed without releasing the bolt from its engagement with the side A of the box.

The mail-such as letters-is dropped through the opening d', the cover d4 being irst lifted the rproper height, and such mail is constantly seen through the transparent front G, and the necessity of opening the box to ascertain whether mail has been deposited in the box is thus obviated.

To remove the mail, the key is inserted in the key-hole e on the top D, which turns upon its hinge or pintle a, and the hand is admitted to remove the letters.

Newspapers' and packages which are not admissible within the opening d', and are often liable to be dropped upon the ground, are secured in my invention to the box, and for this purpose the bent end portion or clamp f2 of the rod F is seized by the hand and drawn outwardly from the side A of the box, the spring f around the said rod yielding for that purpose. The papers are then placed against the side A of the box and between the clamp f2 and said side and the hold upon the clamp released, which clamp grasps the package and all danger of accidental removal is prevented.

I am aware that spring-clips have been used in connection with a letter-box. In my invention, however, the strength of the clamping parts increases as it is drawn out.

The box is ordinarily secured to the side of the outer door to a shop or residence, a screw or nail being inserted through the tlanges b3, which extend the box outside of the moldings. W'hen desired, the address of the owner ot the box may be placed within the box and secured to the inner side of the front G, so that the postman may be informed of theoccupant of the house, and said address may be painted or otherwise affixed to the said front.

I-Iaving fully described my invention, what I now claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a letter-box having' a suitable notched back and a bottom, the combination therewith of sides having hooks at one end and lugs at the other end, said lugs beingdetachably secured to said bottom portion of said box, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a letter-box having suitable perforated carrying-lugs, of a self-retracting rod provided with a bifurcated portion at one end and a bent clamping portion at the other and a spring, substantially as described.

' WILLARD J. ANDREWS. Nitnessest S. L. C. HAssoN, E. I. RATLIFF. 

